And

2)    Does Farrah have a conflict of interest in accepting a $2 million pay out from an organization with frequent business before her committee?

Let's start with question number one.  I'm not saying the fix was in... but...

I gave the Michigan Lottery a quick telephone call to ask about the rules for this particular drawing.  Farrah was one of eight-hundred some odd $1,000 winners via any of the State's $20 instant games.  Completely random.  No sweat.  

The next step was a privately held drawing at Michigan Lottery headquarters where the five finalists were determined.  According to their central office that particular drawing is held in Lansing by the "Drawing Manager" and is not recorded or broadcast but is "independently audited."

If there were any shenanigans this is where they'd have happened.  But let's not lose our minds.  We aren't talking about Al Gore's recount magicians eight years ago or Chicago in the 60s.  I'm sure the drawing manager and the auditors are pretty darn close to being above reproach.  But have stranger things happened?  Sure.  

The final step in the drawing was held live in front of thousands of screaming Pistons fans.  No problems there.

Farrah won.  Probably fair and square.  But that brings us to question number two and the answer is unequivocally YES.  There's one whale-sized conflict of interest here.

State Representative Barb Farrah chairs a committee that regularly deals with the Michigan Lottery.  The Michigan Lottery just cut her a check for $2 million.  Think that'll make a difference the next time lotto business comes before her committee for a hearing or to her desk for a vote?  There are two million reasons the answer is yes.  

The Lotto itself takes steps to avoid this sort of conflict of interest.  The official rules of the lottery state, in part:

R 432.2   Employees and contractors.

Rule 2. An officer or  employee  of  the  bureau  and  any  spouse,  child, brother, sister, or parent residing as a member of the same household in  the principal place of abode of an officer or employee of the  bureau  shall  not  have any interest, direct or indirect, in dealing in the lottery  or in  the ownership or leasing of any property or premises used by or for the lottery.

No one even remotely affiliated with the operations of the lottery is allowed to have anything to do with the drawings, the contests or the cash.  While a Committee Chair responsible for the lottery's operation is not specifically described by law as an "officer or an employee of the bureau" is there any doubt that the same concerns that lead to "Rule 2" apply here equally, if not to a greater extent?

Barb Farrah won $2 million from the Michigan Lottery.  Good for her.  She told the Detroit News last week that it'd be nice to win since she doesn't have a job lined up after her time in Lansing is over.  Now she'll retire in comfort.  

But as long as she's in Lansing and keeps that cash she has no business chairing a committee overseeing the organization that just cut her that monster sized check. She should resign her chairmanship immediately, promise to permanently recuse herself from any and all gambling related votes and hearings or just plain give back the money.  Since the cash makes her so happy it shouldn't be a tough decision.